[[File:ionstorm.jpg|thumb|An ion storm in the Delta Quadrant in 2375.]]

[[File:ionstorm.jpg|thumb|An ion storm in the Delta Quadrant in 2375.]]

−

An '''ion storm''' (also called an '''ionic storm''' or '''ionic front''') is a type of [[magnetic storm]] which contains [[ion]]ically charged [[particle]]s, traveling at thousands of kilometers an hour. Both [[planet]]ary and [[space]]borne ion disturbances can intensify to the point where [[navigation]] is dangerous, and [[transporter]] use all but impossible. At higher levels ion storms can damage or destroy [[spacecraft]].

+

An '''ion storm''' (also called an '''ionic storm''' or '''ionic front''') was a type of [[magnetic storm]] which contained [[ion]]ically charged [[particle]]s, traveling at thousands of [[kilometer]]s an hour. Both [[planet]]ary and [[space]]borne ion disturbances could intensify to the point where [[navigation]] was dangerous, and [[transporter]] use all but impossible. At higher levels ion storms could damage or destroy [[spacecraft]].

−

In [[2129]], an ion storm overloaded the [[plasma conduit]]s on a [[Kantare supply ship]], causing it to crash-land on an [[Unnamed planets|unidentified planet]]. ({{ENT|Oasis}})

+

In [[2129]], an ion storm overloaded the [[plasma conduit]]s on a [[Kantare supply ship]], causing it to [[crashland]] on an [[unnamed Alpha and Beta Quadrant planets#Kantare planet|unidentified planet]]. ({{ENT|Oasis}})

−

An ion storm was on a course between ''[[Enterprise (NX-01)|Enterprise]]'' and a planet with a [[nitrogen sulfide]] atmosphere in [[2151]], but [[Captain]] [[Jonathan Archer|Archer]] elected to weather it rather than change course. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}})

+

An ion storm was on a course between {{EnterpriseNX}} and a planet with a [[nitrogen sulfide]] [[atmosphere]] in [[2151]], but {{Captain}} [[Jonathan Archer|Archer]] elected to weather it rather than change course. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}})

In [[2154]], [[Phlox]] likened placing ''Enterprise'''s crew into protective [[coma]]s to shutting down the ship's main computer to protect it from an ion storm. ({{ENT| Doctor's Orders}})

In [[2154]], [[Phlox]] likened placing ''Enterprise'''s crew into protective [[coma]]s to shutting down the ship's main computer to protect it from an ion storm. ({{ENT| Doctor's Orders}})

−

Ion storms are prevalent in the [[Denorios belt]] and have been since at least the [[22nd century]]. In the [[Bajoran]] year 9174, [[Akorem Laan]]'s [[Bajoran lightship|lightship]] was caught in an ion storm there and was severely damaged. ({{DS9|Explorers|Accession}})

+

Ion storms were prevalent in the [[Denorios belt]] and had been since at least the [[22nd century]]. In the [[Bajoran]] year 9174, [[Akorem Laan]]'s [[Bajoran lightship|lightship]] was caught in an ion storm there and was severely damaged. ({{DS9|Explorers|Accession}})

−

The [[Kalandra system|Kalandra]] [[star system]] has many ion storms. In [[2375]], [[Captain]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] and [[General]] [[Martok]] expressed their concerns the storms would reveal the [[Federation Alliance]] [[starship]]s to the [[Dominion]]. ({{DS9|The Emperor's New Cloak}})

+

The [[Kalandra system|Kalandra]] [[star system]] had many ion storms. In [[2375]], {{Captain}} [[Benjamin Sisko]] and [[General]] [[Martok]] expressed their concerns the storms would reveal the [[Federation Alliance]] [[starship]]s to the [[Dominion]]. ({{DS9|The Emperor's New Cloak}})

The [[Panora]] system also has constant ion storms. ({{DS9|For the Uniform}})

The [[Panora]] system also has constant ion storms. ({{DS9|For the Uniform}})

−

In the [[23rd century]], {{ShipClass|Constitution}} starships were equipped with an [[ion pod]], allowing the [[starship]]s to acquire data in conditions that defeated their conventional [[sensor]] platforms. Starships traversing ion storms were buffeted by the storms "weather" effects and subjected to tremendous [[hull]] pressures and stress. [[Starfleet]] used the measurement of a storm's relative effect on the [[ship]] as a supplementary data point to judge the intensity of an ion storm, and hazards it posed. Minor but noticeable "natural vibrations" were labeled Force-2 on an incremental scale. Above Force-7, the starship was at increased risk and subject to the [[captain]]'s call for [[red alert]] status. ({{TOS|Court Martial}})

+

In the [[23rd century]], {{class|Constitution}} starships were equipped with an [[ion pod]], allowing the [[starship]]s to acquire data in conditions that defeated their conventional [[sensor]] platforms. Starships traversing ion storms were buffeted by the storms "weather" effects and subjected to tremendous [[hull]] pressures and stress. [[Starfleet]] used the measurement of a storm's relative effect on the [[ship]] as a supplementary data point to judge the intensity of an ion storm, and hazards it posed. Minor but noticeable "natural vibrations" were labeled Force-2 on an incremental scale. Above Force-7, the starship was at increased risk and subject to the {{dis|captain|rank}}'s call for [[red alert]] status. ({{TOS|Court Martial}})

Later that year, an ion storm near the [[Halkan homeworld]] resulted in a power surge in the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|''Enterprise'']]'s [[transporter]], causing momentary interdimensional contact with [[mirror universe|a parallel universe]]. [[Captain]] [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]], [[Doctor]] [[Leonard McCoy|McCoy]], [[Commander]] [[Montgomery Scott|Scott]], and [[Lieutenant]] [[Uhura]], who were beaming up to the ''Enterprise'' at the time, materialized in the other universe, transposing with their counterparts from that universe, who experienced an identical accident at the same time. Later, after reviewing the events which led up to the accident, the ''Enterprise'' crewmembers were able to recreate the power surge using energy tapped from the ship's [[warp drive|engine]]s, and return to their own universe. ({{TOS|Mirror, Mirror}})

+

Later that year, an ion storm near the [[Halkan homeworld]] resulted in a power surge in the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|''Enterprise'']]'s [[transporter]], causing momentary interdimensional contact with [[mirror universe|a parallel universe]]. {{Captain}} [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]], [[Doctor]] [[Leonard McCoy|McCoy]], [[Commander]] [[Montgomery Scott|Scott]], and [[Lieutenant]] [[Nyota Uhura|Uhura]], who were beaming up to the ''Enterprise'' at the time, materialized in the other universe, transposing with their counterparts from that universe, who experienced an identical accident at the same time. Later, after reviewing the events which led up to the accident, the ''Enterprise'' crewmembers were able to recreate the power surge using energy tapped from the ship's [[warp drive|engine]]s, and return to their own universe. ({{TOS|Mirror, Mirror}})

The surface of [[Mab-Bu VI]] was ravaged by ionic cyclones and [[electromagnetic storm]]s. ({{TNG|Power Play}})

The surface of [[Mab-Bu VI]] was ravaged by ionic cyclones and [[electromagnetic storm]]s. ({{TNG|Power Play}})

−

In the early [[2350s]], an ion storm struck an area on [[Invernia II]]. [[Richard Bashir|Richard]] and [[Julian Bashir]] sought shelter from it. ({{DS9|Melora}})

+

In [[2351]], an ion storm struck an area on [[Invernia II]]. [[Richard Bashir|Richard]] and [[Julian Bashir]] sought shelter from it. ({{DS9|Melora}})

In late-[[2371]], when the {{USS|Defiant|2370}} was preparing to enter the [[Bajoran Wormhole]] against orders from [[Admiral]] [[Toddman]], the Admiral contacted them and repeated his orders to not enter the [[Gamma Quadrant]]. Captain [[Benjamin Sisko]] and [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]] pretended that his [[communication|transmission]] was being garbled by an ion storm, and proceeded anyway. ({{DS9|The Die is Cast}})

In late-[[2371]], when the {{USS|Defiant|2370}} was preparing to enter the [[Bajoran Wormhole]] against orders from [[Admiral]] [[Toddman]], the Admiral contacted them and repeated his orders to not enter the [[Gamma Quadrant]]. Captain [[Benjamin Sisko]] and [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]] pretended that his [[communication|transmission]] was being garbled by an ion storm, and proceeded anyway. ({{DS9|The Die is Cast}})

−

[[File:KolarusIII2379.jpg|thumb|An ion storm near Kolarus III]]

In [[2374]], [[Morn]] faked his [[death]] in an ion storm. His [[cargo ship]] was supposedly caught in one. ({{DS9|Who Mourns for Morn?}})

In [[2374]], [[Morn]] faked his [[death]] in an ion storm. His [[cargo ship]] was supposedly caught in one. ({{DS9|Who Mourns for Morn?}})

−

Ionic storms above level 8 are a threat to [[Intrepid class|''Intrepid''-class starships]]. The {{USS|Voyager}} encountered level 7 and level 8 storms in the [[Delta Quadrant]] in 2375. ({{VOY|Once Upon a Time}})

+

Ionic storms above level 8 were a threat to [[Intrepid class|''Intrepid''-class starships]]. The {{USS|Voyager}} encountered level 7 and level 8 storms in the [[Delta Quadrant]] in 2375. ({{VOY|Once Upon a Time}})

A [[Borg sphere]] was heavily damaged by an ion storm in 2375. As a result, it was chosen by the ''Voyager'' crew to be the target of [[Operation Fort Knox|a raid]] to steal a [[transwarp coil]]. ({{VOY|Dark Frontier}})

A [[Borg sphere]] was heavily damaged by an ion storm in 2375. As a result, it was chosen by the ''Voyager'' crew to be the target of [[Operation Fort Knox|a raid]] to steal a [[transwarp coil]]. ({{VOY|Dark Frontier}})

Line 40:

Line 39:

Late in 2375, Janeway told [[Rudolph Ransom]] that ion storms were one of the problems ''Voyager'' had had to face over the past five years in the Delta Quadrant. ({{VOY|Equinox}})

Late in 2375, Janeway told [[Rudolph Ransom]] that ion storms were one of the problems ''Voyager'' had had to face over the past five years in the Delta Quadrant. ({{VOY|Equinox}})

−

Laterthat year, [[Neelix]] claimed that he “''always enjoyed a good ion storm''” on [[Talax]]. ({{VOY|Fair Haven}})

+

In[[2376]], [[Neelix]] claimed that he "''always enjoyed a good ion storm''" on [[Talax]]. ({{VOY|Fair Haven}})

−

In [[2379]],Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] used a nearby ion storm asan excuse to take the [[shuttle]] ''[[Argo (shuttlecraft)|Argo]]'' to the surface of [[Kolarus III]] in search of [[positronic net]] signals. ({{film|10}})

+

[[File:KolarusIII.jpg|thumb|An ion storm near Kolarus III]]

+

In [[2379]], Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] used a nearby ion storm as an excuse to take the [[shuttle]] ''{{dis|Argo|shuttlecraft}}'' to the surface of [[Kolarus III]] in search of [[positronic net]] signals. ({{film|10}})

+

+

{{bginfo|In an ultimately unused line of dialogue from the final draft script of "Court Martial", [[James T. Kirk]] described ion storms as "the worst kind" of storm. However, this line of a dialogue was omitted by the time the revised final draft of the teleplay was issued.}}

In the 23rd century, Constitution-class starships were equipped with an ion pod, allowing the starships to acquire data in conditions that defeated their conventional sensor platforms. Starships traversing ion storms were buffeted by the storms "weather" effects and subjected to tremendous hull pressures and stress. Starfleet used the measurement of a storm's relative effect on the ship as a supplementary data point to judge the intensity of an ion storm, and hazards it posed. Minor but noticeable "natural vibrations" were labeled Force-2 on an incremental scale. Above Force-7, the starship was at increased risk and subject to the captain's call for red alert status. (TOS: "Court Martial")

Later that year, an ion storm near the Halkan homeworld resulted in a power surge in the Enterprise's transporter, causing momentary interdimensional contact with a parallel universe. CaptainKirk, DoctorMcCoy, CommanderScott, and LieutenantUhura, who were beaming up to the Enterprise at the time, materialized in the other universe, transposing with their counterparts from that universe, who experienced an identical accident at the same time. Later, after reviewing the events which led up to the accident, the Enterprise crewmembers were able to recreate the power surge using energy tapped from the ship's engines, and return to their own universe. (TOS: "Mirror, Mirror")

In an ultimately unused line of dialogue from the final draft script of "Court Martial", James T. Kirk described ion storms as "the worst kind" of storm. However, this line of a dialogue was omitted by the time the revised final draft of the teleplay was issued.